Triggered ability: Difference between revisions
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== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
{{examples|text='''Example''' | {{examples|text='''Example''' | ||
*<c>Drekavac</c> says "When Drekavac | *<c>Drekavac</c> says "When Drekavac enters the battlefield, sacrifice it unless you discard a noncreature card." The trigger [[event]] is when Drekavac enters the battlefield, by whatever means. As soon as it does, this ability triggers and goes on the stack. When it resolves, you must discard or sacrifice the Drekavac.}} | ||
A triggered ability can be a [[Mana Abilities|mana ability]], which means that it doesn't go on the stack, but resolves immediately. | A triggered ability can be a [[Mana Abilities|mana ability]], which means that it doesn't go on the stack, but resolves immediately. A triggered ability is a mana ability if it has the capability to produce mana, doesn't target anything, and triggers by activating another (activated) mana ability. | ||
{{examples|text='''Example''' | {{examples|text='''Example''' | ||
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{{examples|text='''Example''' | {{examples|text='''Example''' | ||
*<c>Ignorant Bliss</c> says " | *<c>Ignorant Bliss</c> says "Exile all cards from your hand face down. At the beginning of the next end step, return those cards to your hand, then draw a card." This creates a delayed triggered ability that waits until the next [[end of turn step]], then goes on the stack. If it resolves, you return the exiled cards to your hand and draw a new card. If it doesn't resolve (for example because it's countered with <c>Voidslime</c>), those cards will remain exiled indefinitely, and you don't get to draw a card.}} | ||
Using triggered | Using a triggered ability is not optional. When triggered, the controller can't refuse to put the ability on the stack. Nor can he or she choose an illegal target, if a target is required. If a targeted ability has no legal targets in play, it still triggers and goes on the stack, but is taken off immediately. | ||
{{examples|text='''Example''' | {{examples|text='''Example''' | ||
*<c>Nekrataal</c> says "When Nekrataal | *<c>Nekrataal</c> says "When Nekrataal enters the battlefield, destroy target nonartifact, nonblack creature." If the only nonartifact, nonblack creatures in play are ones you control, you must choose one of them to be targeted by Nekrataal's ability. Only if there are only black and/or artifact creatures in play will Nekrataal's ability be taken off the stack.}} | ||
Triggered abilities are cumulative, and multiple instances of the same triggered ability on a permanent will each trigger separately. | Triggered abilities are cumulative, and multiple instances of the same triggered ability on a permanent will each trigger separately. | ||
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*<c>Genju of the Fields</c> has an activated ability that turns an enchanted land into a creature and gives it "whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life." If this ability is activated three times, the enchanted land will be a creature with three instances of the life-gaining ability. If it then deals 2 damage, each of those three abilities will trigger, each will see that 2 damage was dealt, and each will give 2 damage to its controller, for a total gain of 6 life.}} | *<c>Genju of the Fields</c> has an activated ability that turns an enchanted land into a creature and gives it "whenever this creature deals damage, you gain that much life." If this ability is activated three times, the enchanted land will be a creature with three instances of the life-gaining ability. If it then deals 2 damage, each of those three abilities will trigger, each will see that 2 damage was dealt, and each will give 2 damage to its controller, for a total gain of 6 life.}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 13:19, 22 January 2015
A triggered ability is an ability that automatically does something when a certain event occurs or a set of conditions is met (the latter is called a state-triggered ability) .
A triggered ability can be identified by the words "when," "whenever," or "at", which will usually be found at the start of the ability. The phrase that contains one of those words lists the conditions (the trigger event or trigger state) where the ability will trigger. When it does, the ability goes on the stack (unless it's a mana ability), and responses can be played.
Comprehensive Rules
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Examples
A triggered ability can be a mana ability, which means that it doesn't go on the stack, but resolves immediately. A triggered ability is a mana ability if it has the capability to produce mana, doesn't target anything, and triggers by activating another (activated) mana ability.
Effects can also create a delayed trigger ability, which waits until the next time its conditions are fulfilled, then triggers usually once. (Delayed triggers that state a duration will trigger any time, within that duration, that their trigger event occurs.)
Using a triggered ability is not optional. When triggered, the controller can't refuse to put the ability on the stack. Nor can he or she choose an illegal target, if a target is required. If a targeted ability has no legal targets in play, it still triggers and goes on the stack, but is taken off immediately.
Triggered abilities are cumulative, and multiple instances of the same triggered ability on a permanent will each trigger separately.
External links
- Matt Tabak (February 04, 2013). "Missed Trigger Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.